Cisco has location-based services for different purposes. One of them is Cisco DNA spaces and CMX. Both are location-based services that allow location analytics, troubleshooting, and managing networks. However, several features differ in both. It can be said that Cisco CMX is a basic version, while Cisco DNA spaces is an advanced version for location-based services.
Key Takeaways
- Cisco DNA Spaces is a cloud-based platform, while CMX is an on-premises solution.
- DNA Spaces provides more advanced location analytics and insights compared to CMX.
- CMX focuses primarily on Wi-Fi-based location services, whereas DNA Spaces offers a broader range of IoT integration and location services.
Cisco DNA Spaces vs CMX
Cisco DNA Spaces and CMX are both Cisco solutions for wireless network data analytics, but DNA Spaces is a cloud-based platform with more advanced features and capabilities compared to the on-premise CMX.

Cisco DNA Spaces is a cloud-based location service that offers analytics and assurance powered by AI/ML for simple troubleshooting and management of wireless networks. As for the features, DNA spaces also have a feature for location hierarchy, location analytics, and insights. Additionally, it also provides operational insights to identify and monitor assets for more operational efficiency. Besides, it shows more engagement with its users, unlike Cisco CMX.
Cisco CMX is also a location service that offers service as well as for analytics for mobile devices. As for the features, there are similarities between Cisco DNA spaces and CMX. However, Cisco DNA spaces have more features than CMX. It offers location analytics, connects to captive portals, detects and locates devices’ location, basic high availability, hyper location, and location notifications.
Comparison Table
Parameters of comparison | Cisco DNA Spaces | Cisco CMX |
---|---|---|
Location hierarchy | Cisco DNA Spaces has a feature for location hierarchy. | Cisco CMX hasn’t had this feature. |
Reports | Through Cisco DNA Spaces, one can access online reports. | Cisco CMX cannot access it. |
Engagement | Cisco DNA Spaces shows more engagement with their user, while | Cisco CMX doesn’t. |
Operational insights | Cisco DNA Spaces provides operational insights helping to identify and monitor assets for more operational efficiency. | Cisco CMX doesn’t have operational insights. |
Open roaming | Cisco DNA Spaces has open roaming. | Cisco CMX hasn’t had this feature. |
What is Cisco DNA Space?
Cisco DNA Spaces is a cloud-based location service that offers analytics and assurance powered by AI/ML for simple troubleshooting and management of wireless networks.
As for the features, DNA spaces also have a feature for location hierarchy, location analytics, and insights. It helps manage and group locations based on regions, zones, etc., enabling them access to factors and business language.
Additionally, it also provides operational insights to identify and monitor assets for more operational efficiency. Besides, it shows more engagement with its users by sending personalized notifications based on location and identity to visitors and employees through different communication software, unlike Cisco CMX.
Moreover, it has several features, including reports, connection to captive portals, smart captive portals, location personas, detect and locate, open roaming, basic high availability, cloud platform high availability, on-prem location compute, cloud location compute, hyper location(on-prem), partner apps, partner APIs, and location notifications.
Also, BLE management of Cisco DNA spaces is in a beta configuration that securely configures AP-based beacons. And App SDK in beta allows applications to use devices’ indoor location to improve user experience.
Cisco DNA spaces share similarities with Cisco CMX, offering the same on-premise location capabilities. But it does have added new features with special pricing.
What is Cisco CMX?
Cisco CMX is also a location service that offers service as well as analytics for mobile devices. As for the features, there are similarities between Cisco DNA spaces and CMX. However, Cisco DNA spaces have more features than CMX. It offers location analytics, connects to captive portals, detects and locates devices’ location, basic high availability, hyper location, and location notifications.
Cisco CMX is also a location service that offers service, analytics for mobile devices, and troubleshooting in networks.
As for the features, DNA CMX has a feature for detecting and locating devices and location analytics. It helps in correlating the pattern of users and creating data based on it. And search and display location based on MAC or IP address.
Additionally, it doesn’t provide operational insights. Besides, it shows less engagement with its users than Cisco DNA spaces.
Moreover, it has several features, including connecting captive portals, detecting and locating devices, basic high availability, On-prem location computes, hyper location, Partner APIs, and Location notifications.
Cisco CMX shares similarities with Cisco DNA spaces, offering the same on-premise location capabilities. But it doesn’t have new features which are present in Cisco DNA spaces.
The additional features and pricing of Cisco DNA spaces make it different from Cisco CMX.
Main Differences Between Cisco DNA Spaces and CMX
Cisco has location services for managing and troubleshooting the wireless network in the spaces and devices. Different services have different features, thus, they should be chosen based on preference. People tend to confuse between Cisco DNA spaces and CMX as they are both offers location. However, they’re very different from each other, ranging from basics to features.
- Cisco DNA Spaces has a feature for location hierarchy, while Cisco CMX hasn’t had this feature.
- Through Cisco DNA Spaces, one can access online reports. Meanwhile, Cisco CMX cannot access it.
- Cisco DNA Spaces shows more engagement with their user, while Cisco CMX doesn’t.
- Cisco DNA Spaces provides operational insights helping to identify and monitor assets for more operational efficiency. Meanwhile, Cisco CMX doesn’t have operational insights.
- Cisco DNA Spaces has open roaming, while Cisco CMX hasn’t had this feature.